Envelope



p 1943- P. E. GEORGIOU 2,330,045

ENVELOPE I Filed NOV. 29, 1940 INVENTOR PAUL E. GEORGIOU BY Patented Sept. 21, 1943 UNITEDVSSTATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE Paul E. Georgiou, Salt Lake City, Utah Application November 29, 1940, Serial No. 367,686 (01. 229-435) Claims.

This invention relates to envelopes and more particularly to a novel opening means therefor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an envelope of symmetrical shape which is so constructed that a portion thereof may be torn oil along a predetermined line to entirely ope an end of the envelope.

Another object of my invention is to provide an envelope of the character described which may be opened without the use of a cutting implement, such as for example the usual dagger type letter opener. 7

Still another object of my invention isto provide an envelope of the character described which may be conveniently opened in a neat manner without injuring the letter or other contents of the envelope.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an envelope of the character described which is economical to manufacture, simple to close or open, and highly efficient for the purposes set forth.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application for Envelope, Serial No. 228,610 filed September 6, 1938.

In the accompanying drawing, in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is an inside face view of the blank from which an envelope embodying my invention may be formed;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the envelope ubsequent to a folding step during assembly thereof;

Fig; 3 is a. rear view of a completely folded envelope;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and explanatory of the light attachment between the opening tab and the body of the envelope; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary inside face view of an envelope blank embodying a modified form of my invention.

In general I accomplish the stated objects of my invention by providing the walls of the envelope with a pair of integral tabs which are adhesively secured to each other during the assembly of the envelope to form an opening tab, and

by slightly securing the opening tab to the body of the envelope prior to mailing.

Referring now to Figs. 1 through 4, I have there shown an envelope blank I 0 constructed in accordance with my invention and comprising a front portion H and a back portion 13 integrally joined thereto along a fold line l2. Integrally joined to the front portion ll along a fold line I4 is a sealing flap l5 having a gummed area [6 adjacent its marginal edges, as is usual in this art. The front portion II is also provided with a pair of flaps l1 and I8 which are integral with said front portion and are joined thereto along fold lines l9 and 20, respectively. Said flaps l1 and I8 are provided in a manner similar to the sealing flap [5 with gummed area 2| and 22, respectively, disposed along their marginal edges. The back portion I3 is provided on at least one of its edges with an integral back flap 23 attached along a fold line 24, which, when the back portion I3 is folded along the line I2 so as to be superimposed on the front portion II, will be substantially coincident with the fold line l9, joining one of the front flap I! to the front portion II, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

To make up an envelope from the blank lo, the back portion i3 is first folded about the fold line l2 so as to be superimposed upon the front portion H and the flap 23, then folded over so as to lie flat against the rear face of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 2. The gummed areas 2| and 22 are then rendered adhesive and folded over to lie fiat upon the rear surface of the envelope. At this time the front flap I8 will become adhesively secured to the rearface of the back portion I3 so as to close off and seal that end. The other front flap II will become adhesively secured to the back flap 23 to form an assembled or unitary tab, hereinafter referred to as the "opening tab, which facilitates the opening of the envelope at that end in a manner soon to be described.

In accordance with my invention the front and rear flaps I1 and 23 are. so constructed and arranged that when the flap I1 is adhesively secured to the flap 23 in the manner hereinabove described, a relatively small portion of the gummed area 2 I, although superimposed over the flap 23, will not be adhesively secured thereto but will be free to become adhesively attached to the rear surface of the back portion 13. Said adhesive portion may comprise a plurality of small spaced areas or spots which form an easily broken attachment between the opening tab and the body of the envelope. To this end I may provide the back flap 23 with a plurality of perforations 25 adapted to be so disposed as to be in registry with the gummed area 2| after the envelope blank is assembled by folding. Said perforations are spaced from each other and their combined size is only a small part of the total area of the gummed portion 2|.

In this manner, it will be seen that although the back and front flaps I1 and 23 are firmly Joined together to form a unitary opening tab. the opening tab will be only slightly attached to the back portion l3 and may be readily detached therefrom without the use of any instruments by grasping the same with the fingers and applying a slight tug.

If desired, in lieu of the perforations 25 a plurality of spaced indentations 26 may be formed in the edge of the back flap 23, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be readily apparent that although I have shown the back flap 23 as integrally attached to one lateral edge of the back portion l3 and as adapted to cooperate with a front flap I! to form an opening tab disposed at a lateral end of the envelope, an opening tab embodying my invention may be alternatively located at the other lateral end or at the top or bottom of the envelope.

To open a sealed envelope made in accordance with my invention, the opening tab is first detached from the rear face of the envelope in the manner above ,described, and then torn off from.

the body of the envelope along the fold lines l9 and 24, thus neatly and completely opening that velope which is torn off extends beyond the body of the envelope and thus avoids any possibility of grasping, tearing, or mutilating the contents of the envelope.

. It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of my invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An envelope of symmetrical shape comprising a front portion, a sealing flap along the upper edge of said front portion, narrow front flaps of substantially equal area extending away from and along substantially the full length of the opposite lateral edges of said front portion-and connected therewith by fold lines, a back portion coextensive with and Joined to said front portion opposite said sealing flap by a fold line and a narrow back flap extending from and along'substantially the full length of one lateral edge of said back portion and connected therewith by a fold line coinciding with the fold line between said front portion and one of said front flaps, said back flap and the adjacent front flap being permanently secured together in extending position for substantially their full length by adhesive to form a two-ply unitary opening tab sealing one lateral end of said envelope and being folded so as to lie flat on said back portion, said unitary two-ply opening tab being so constructed and arranged in such folded condition as to be manually movable to a position extending away from said envelope wherein said tab may be torn along said coinciding fold lines to open said envelope, the other front flap being secured by adhesive directly to the opposite lateral edge of said back portion.

2. An envelope of symmetrical shape comprising a front portion, a sealing flap along the upper edge of said front portion, narrow front flaps of substantially equal area extending away from and along substantially the full length of the opposite lateral edges of said front portion and connected therewith by fold lines, a back portion coextensive with and joined to said front portion opposite said sealing flap by a fold line and a narrow back flap extending from and along substantially the full length of one lateral edge of said back portion and connected therewith by a fold line coinciding with the fold line between said front portion and one of said front flaps, said back flap and the adjacent front flap being permanently secured together in extending position for substantially their full length by adhesive to form. a two-ply unitary opening tab sealing one lateral end of said envelope and being folded so as to lie flat on said back portion, the other front flap being secured by adhesive directly to the opposite lateral edge of said back portion, said unitary opening tab being slightly secured to said back portion by relatively small spot or spots of adhesive, whereby said unitary two-ply opening tab may be readily manually detached from adhesive engagement with said back portion and moved to a position extending away from said envelope wherein said tab may be torn along said coinciding fold lines to open said envelope.

3. An envelope of symmetrical shape comprising a front portion, a sealing flap along the upper edge of said front portion, narrow front flaps of substantially equal area extending away from and along substantially the full length of the opposite lateral edges of said front portion and connected therewith by fold lines, a back portion coextensive with and joined to said front portion opposite said sealing flap by a fold line and a narrow back flap extending from and along substantially the full length of one lateral edge of said back portion and connected therewith by a fold line coinciding with the fold line between said front portion and one of said front flaps, said back flap and the. adjacent front flap being permanently secured together in extending position for substantially their full length by adhesive to form a two-ply unitary opening tab sealing one lateral end of said envelope and being folded so as to lie flat on said back portion, the other front flap being secured by adhesive directly to the opposite lateral edge of said back portion, said back flap being provided with relatively small perforations to allow spots of the adhesive on the adjacent front flap to slightly secure said unitary opening tab folded flat to said back portion, whereby said unitary two-ply opening tab may be readily manually detached from adhesive engagement with said back portion and moved to a position extending away from said envelope wherein said tab may be torn along said coinciding-fold lines to open said envelope.

4. An envelopeof symmetrical shape comprising a front portion, a sealing flap along the upper edge of said front portion, narrow front flaps of substantially equal area extending along substantially the full length of the opposite lateral edges of said front portion and connected therewith by fold lines, a back portion coextensive with and joined to said front portion opposite said sealing flap by a fold line and a narrow back flap extending from one lateral edge of said back portion-and connected therewith by a fold line coinciding with the fold line between said front portion and one of said front flaps, said back flap and the adjacent front flap being permanently secured together for substantially their full length by adhesive to form a two-ply unitary opening tab sealing one lateral end of said envelope and folded so as to lie flat on said back portion, the other front flap being secured by adhesive directly to the opposite lateral edge of said back portion, said back flap being provided with relatively'small marginal indentations to allow spots of the adhesive on the adjacent front flap to slightly secure said unitary opening tab folded flat to said back portion, whereby said unitary two-ply opening tab may be readily manually detached from adhesive engagement with said back portion and moved to a position extending away from said envelope wherein said tab may be torn along said coinciding fold lines to open said envelope.

5. Opening means for an envelope comprising a unitary tab extending away from and along substantially the full length of a lateral end of the envelope and joined to the front and rear walls thereof by coinciding fold lines thereby sealing said end, a tearing-edge of double thickness formed by said fold lines, said unitary tab being folded from its extended position along said fold lines so as to lie fiat on the surface of the envelope, and adhesive means for slightly securing said unitary tab in said folded position to maintain the symmetrical appearance of the envelope, said unitary tab being adapted to be readily manually lifted from its folded po sition back to extended position preparatory to being torn off from the walls of the envelope along said tearing-edge.

PAUL E. GEORGIOU. 

